Russian Diplomats With Immunity Accused Of Drunk Driving In Britain

Last year 12 "serious offences" were allegedly committed by people entitled to diplomatic immunity in the UK, the Foreign Office (FCO) has revealed.

In a statement to MPs on Thursday, the FCO said among the offences reported were three instances of a Russian diplomat driving while drunk.

A diplomat from Tanzania was accused of actual bodily harm and a diplomat from Bangladesh was alleged to have abused a domestic worker.

A "serious offence" is defined as those which could, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12-months imprisonment or more. Also included are drink-driving and driving without insurance.

Diplomatic immunity means diplomats in foreign countries are not subject to the law of the country they live in while conducting their embassy duties.

Some 22,500 people are entitled to diplomatic immunity in the UK and the FCO said it "does not tolerate foreign diplomats breaking the law".

The statement said: "We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When instances of alleged criminal conduct are brought to our attention by the police, we ask the relevant foreign government to waive diplomatic immunity where appropriate.

It added: "For the most serious offences, we seek the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat."